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Daylight saving time could spark a rise in car accidents

On behalf of Law Offices of James L. O'Rourke posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

Connecticut drivers and anyone else who is out on the road as a pedestrian or cyclist know that there are dangers everywhere. With the number of drivers who are operating their vehicle while distracted, are drowsy, drive under the influence, and operate their vehicles recklessly or negligently, an auto accident can happen in a split-second and cause terrible injuries and fatalities. Other factors can come into play when there is an auto accident, some being due to outside influences over which people have little control. One that is relevant this time of the year is daylight saving time.

Everyone has heard the term "spring forward, fall back" to remember how the clocks are supposed to be shifted in spring and fall. People might have individual reasons for liking or disliking the practice. Practically, a more pressing concern is that there is a rise in auto accidents when the clocks are changed for the fall and winter. The University of Connecticut says that there is a rise in motor vehicle accidents after moving the clocks back. From 2015 to 2017, the hours between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. had a 45 percent rise in accidents in that time-period. There was also an increase of 43 percent of accidents involving pedestrians.

A spokesperson for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that people tend to rush to try and return home in the evening after work. Being tired and thinking about issues other than the road, the pieces are in place to cause a car collision. Drivers are advised to maintain attention on the road when it is getting dark at an earlier hour. Reducing speed and watching the road are effective strategies to be safer.

After a car accident, those who were involved and suffered injuries or lost a loved one might not immediately consider that the time of day was a factor with the other prominent issues that are known to cause a crash. But with the research of how daylight saving can impact the number of car accidents this time of the year, having legal assistance from an experienced law firm can help people who have been injured in a car wreck.

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